Moccasin



sept. 1o, 1935'.

Filed sept. 24, 1930 D. W. WIGGIN MOC CASIN 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. l0,1935.

MOCCASIN Filed Sept. 24, 1930 2 Smets-sheet 2 D. w. WIGGIN 2,014,094 YPatented Sept. 10, 1935 U N IT E D PATENT OFFICE Moo'oAslN poration gf,Maine Application September 24, 1930, Serial No. 484,037

.6 Claims,

This invention relates to footwear and par.- ticularly to doublestructure shoes or boots where extra waterproofness or warmth isdesired. Articles of this type have been-proposed-as in effect a shoewithin a shoe, but obviously the doubling of any ordinary shoe structuremust makeit very stiff and rigid particularly in the seams.

The particular fields of .usefulness for footwear of this type are thoseinwhich much actual walking or climbing must be done and under suchconditions the wearer' needs a maximum freedom of foot action as lifeand limb are frequently dependent on sure footedness and stiff or clumsyfootwear is fatiguing in ordinary walking and a handicap in emergencyfootwork.

My present invention contemplates a combi-nation of different typescffootwear so-that in a single structure I have'the essential factors oftwo old and well known types built into a novel unit of greatlyincreased advantage for the purposes suggested.

In addition to the difficulties of providing a strong waterproof boot orshoe of the double type,.

there is the ever `present demandfor neatness and style in appearancewhich meansin most' cases that the article must appear as of `the .usualmodish type while having unusual utilitarian structural features soembodied as not to detract from its external appearance.

My concept is essentially the combinationof two distinct members, anouter and an inner. The inner member is a moccasinof :true type; thatis, with the vamp extending under the sole of the foot so `that the samepiece forms-.both the sides and thebottom. The .topmay consist of a toepiece sewn to the upturned edges of the vamp with a U seam as iscustomary with most moccasins of the American Indians, or the vampitself may be continued up over the foot and its edges stitched togetherwith a T-shaped seam, as was used by certain tribes of Indians (theChitemacha of Louisiana,the Sauk and Fox of Oklahoma) and to a certainextent by modern moccasin makers.

The outer member is the vamp of a shoe of ordinary external appearanceand may be of Goodyear welt, McKay, Stitchdown, or other methods, theStitchdown construction being preferred.

The advantages of a moccasin next to the foot are great. The foot iscradled in the vamp and the seam is high and above the tread of the footand above the ordinary water line.

For the purposes of illustration and discussion I have shown in theaccompanying drawings, an embodiment of my invention in which a moccasinis given the appearance of an ordinary type of shoe, that shown being aStitchdown. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view of such a shoe having the toe reinforcingportion rolled back to expose the toe of the moccasin and its assembly.5

Fig. 2 is a view of the toe portion completed.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to' Figure 1, showing a moccasin member ofdifferent type.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on they line 5 5, Fig. 4, l0 and Fig. 6 is aView of the pattern of the inner or moccasin member.

Referring to the structure shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive, the vamp ofthe moccasin member is l5 indicated at I, united at 2 to a toe member 3,as in any moccasin. The sole 4 is stitched as at 5 to the vamp. This maybe done either before or after sewing the seam 2.

On the structure thus formed, which is a 20 moccasin having a sole withedges extending somewhat beyond the sides of the moccasimthe second orexternal element t is placed. It may be of-any .type or pattern. It is,however, shown as fastened as at 1 by the Stitchdown method to the 25projecting edges of the sole 4. An additional sole may be applied asdesired.

It will be noted that in such a structure the moccasin element becomes afree cradling encasement forthe foot, and that the use of innersole,welt and bottom filler is vavoided as is the case with all moccasinconstruction, thereby giving the footwear greater flexibility, lightnessand comfort.

In ,building .such a composite shoe structure the use of the U-shapedtoe seam involves a distinct difficulty in the prominence of the seam 2.In the moccasin this is so characteristic as not to be at allobjectionable, but in fact a feature looked for as indicative to thebuyer of the true moccasin product.

In combination, however, this characteristic seam is so prominent as tobe a problem as the overlying toe member 6 which must be tightly lastedtends to show any ridge or projection in the underlying structure.

According to my invention I avoid this difliculty and attain furtheradvantage by providing a layer 8 on the toe piece 3 within the liftedseam 2. This may be of any material but according to my invention is aplastic waterproof ller such as has been heretofore used as a sole ller,but preferably more elastic and more waterproof. It is to be noted thatthe top of the foot and the base of the instep are areas particularlysubjected to 55 moisture under pressure as where the wearer is walkingthrough wet grass or snow.

In practice the outer shoe member 6 is cemented to the ller 8 and toemember 2 and so much of the vamp I as it contacts. In fact, thewaterproof cement is extended to all contacting parts as to the sole dand the seams 'I when the member 6 is stitched down.

The diiculty involved in the use of the U-seam may be entirely avoidedby enlarging the vamp so that a separate toe piece is unnecessary, theupturned edges of the vamp being united by a T- shaped toe seam, thusforming a combined or integral vamp and toe piece (see Figs. 4 to 6). Inthe form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, the moccasin member Ila is ofthe general pattern indicated in Fig. 6, the edges of the vamp Il beingunited by a longitudinal seam l2 and transverse seams IS and a toe seamI8. The sole 4 is applied in the usual Way by stitches 5 and the outershoe member 5 lasted over the moccasin and stitched or otherwisefastened as at 1. The outer shoe member E may be cemented to themoccasin member Il all as hereinbefore described.

The structures herein shown constitute a new type of footwear combininga member of true moccasin type while outwardly presenting a shoe ofconventional style. 'Ihese offer distinct advantages, in some respectseven beyond the combined factors of the two essential elements of whichthey are made. These advantages are: (l) Like a moccasin they have noinnersole, welt or bottom ller. They are, therefore, iiexible,light-weight, and offer a permanently flat and uniform bearing for thefoot. (2) They offer the cradling support of the true moccasin. (3) Theouter element 6 overlies the seam of the moccasin, protecting it fromripping and also from leaking. (4) 'I'he outer element being fastened tothe sole at 'l prevents water from entering between the vamp cover 6 andthe seam of the moccasin. (5) The sealing together of the two elementscementitiously provides an additional factor increasing their wearingand water turning powers. (6) Since the weakest point of the moccasin isat the seam 2 at the top of the foot and the weakest point of the shoeis at the seam 'l where the upper joins the sole, in these structures,the strong points of the moccasin are opposite the Weak `points of theshoe, and the strong points of the shoe protect the weak points of themoccasin. (7) The outer shoe oiTers great freedom in the way of designand decoration.

As above suggested, the elements of the combination may be of variousdesign or pattern and may be variously assembled, those shown beingmerely illustrative and suggestive of such changes and modifications aswill readily occur to those skilled in this art.

What I therefore claim and Letters Patent is:-

1. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin construction,a sole, a toe filler for the fore part of the moccasin member, and anouter vamp cover overlying the moccasin member and marginally united tothe sole.

2. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin constructionincluding seamed vamp and toe piece members, a sole attached to thebottom of the vamp, a filler over the toe piece within the seam thereof,and an exterior member overlying the vamp of the moccasin member andmarginally united to the sole.

3. An article of footwear comprising a member of moccasin constructionincluding a vamp and toe piece seamed together, a sole attached to thebottom of the vamp, a filler over the toe piece within the seam thereof,and an outer vamp cover overlying the moccasin member, the vamp coveringbeing cementitiously united to the moccasin and ller.

4. An article of footwear, comprising a member of moccasin construction,including a vamp and a toe piece seamed together, an outer vamp desireto secure by cover overlying the vamp and toe piece, and a f sole seamedto the upper, the seam uniting said toe piece and said vamp beingsubstantially spaced from the seam uniting said outer vamp cover to saidsole.

5. An article of footwear, comprising a member of moccasin construction,including a vamp eX- tending continuously around the foot as an integraltread portion, a toe piece seamed to said vamp a substantial distanceabove the tread portion, an outer vamp cover overlying the vamp and toepiece, a sole seamed to said outer vamp cover, the seam uniting said toepiece and said vamp being substantially spaced from the seam unitingsaid outer vamp-cover to said sole.

. 6. An article of footwear, consisting of a toe piece and a vampextending continuously around the foot as an integral tread portion andseamed to each other a substantial distance from the tread portion, asole attached to the tread portion and an outer vamp cover overlying thetoe piece and vamp above said sole, and seamed to said sole, the seamsuniting said toe piece and said vamp being substantially spaced from theseam uniting said outer vamp cover to said sole.

DANIEL W. WIGGIN.

